Tight secrecy surrounded SI.com's LeBron James scoop

In the end, LeBron James controlled the messaging like he does everything on the court: on his own terms.

With rumors rampant that the world's best basketball player was going back home to play for the Cleveland Cavaliers, breathless stories of his impending decision — and even Internet forensics analyzing possible clues — filled hours of airtime and countless pages of basketball blogs.

In announcing the decision Friday, James chose to share his words — as told to writer Lee Jenkins — in an exclusive piece for SI.com, the website for Sports Illustrated. The piece, simply titled "I'm Coming Home," was a decidedly more understated affair than the much derided live interview he gave four years ago to reporter Jim Gray in "The Decision" to reveal he was leaving Cleveland to join the Miami Heat.

Since joining the Heat, James has married, become a father of two boys and won two NBA championships. And the SI piece was a peek into the player's reflective, wistful side that has rarely been displayed.

"If I had to do it all over again, I'd obviously do things differently, but I'd still have left," James wrote. "Miami, for me, has been almost like college for other kids. These past four years helped raise me into who I am. I became a better player and a better man."

It was a huge coup for Sports Illustrated's online operation, whose website was recently overhauled to give off that Web 3.0 vibe. Battling the vastly larger resources of its chief rival, ESPN, the magazine and website have been working with the James camp for the exclusive even as reports surfaced that he may return to Miami or break the news of his return on his website, LebronJames.com.

Jenkins, a lead NBA writer for Sports Illustrated, has known James for years. He wrote the cover story when the magazine named James Sportsman of the Year in 2012. Jenkins, who was flying and wasn't available for an interview Friday, approached his editors in the spring and tossed out the idea of writing a first-person account about James' impending free agency, said Chris Stone, managing editor of Sports Illustrated. "We thought that'd be great if (he) can pull that off," he said.

Last Saturday, Stone received an e-mail from Jenkins, vaguely suggesting that the story "that we talked about" was a possibility, Stone said.

Jenkins flew to meet James on Thursday in Las Vegas. Jenkins e-mailed Stone Thursday night — without mentioning James' final decision — saying that a story was developing. "I was OK with not knowing what his ultimate decision was until he turned in the story," Stone said.

Jenkins, who had been fine-tuning the article with James, delivered the first draft at 10:30 a.m. Friday, at which point Stone and other editors learned where James was headed.

In anticipation of the story, a few SI video staffers were asked to arrive in the morning to prepare a video package. The magazine will run a longer, third-person story in the print issue to be published next week, Stone said.

Once the story was published at about 12:15 p.m., SI.com's traffic spiked sharply, said Paul Fichtenbaum, sports group editor for SI parent Time Inc. "I've never seen a spike like that in the 10 years I've been attached to the website," he said. "I did tell our tech people last night, 'Just be prepared. We may have a spike in traffic.'"

Chris Sheridan, who runs basketball news site SheridanHoops.com, also took a victory lap Friday. The veteran NBA writer broke the news Wednesday that James was returning to Cleveland. His report was questioned on Twitter by his peers and by fans. Sheridan insisted that his source was trustworthy and that he'd be vindicated when James revealed the decision. In the end, his report of James' destination turned out to be on the money, although his prediction that it would be announced on LebronJames.com was off target.

"Thanks for kind words folks," Sheridan tweeted Friday, responding to kudos. "Just doing my job. Wouldn't have reported it as done deal unless I was absolutely certain, which I was."

PHOTOS: LEBRON'S HIGHLIGHTS AND LOWLIGHTS

LeBron James. What's left to say? Four-time MVP. Two-time champion. Gold medalist. Flip through this gallery for some of the most memorable images of King James' career. David Richard, USA TODAY Sports

The final piece of hardware for King James' 'corination' as an NBA champion came opening night of the 2012-13 season when LeBron James and his Heat teammates were given their championship rings during a ceremony before a game against the Celtics, on Oct. 30, 2012, in Miami. J Pat Carter, AP

Right after he won an NBA title with the Heat, LeBron James was able to drape himself in the American flag after the USA defeated Spain 107-100 in the men's basketball gold medal game at the London Olympics. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports

After finishing with 26 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds in Game 5 of NBA Finals, LeBron James was not only able to hoist his first NBA championship trophy, he also was named MVP of the 2012 NBA Finals. Derick E. Hingle, US Presswire

South Beach hasn't always been fun and games for LeBron James. Here he walks off the court after Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks on June 12, 2011. The Mavericks won 105-95 to win the series. Lynne Sladky, AP

Workmen remove a large mural of LeBron James from a building in downtown Cleveland on July 10, 2010 after James, who had played seven years for the Cavaliers, signed with the Miami Heat after becoming a free agent. Mark Duncan, AP

It was during the event to introduce LeBron James, left, and Chris Bosh, right, as Dwyane Wade's newest teammates, that James made his infamous 'Not one, not two, not three ..." prediction about the number of championships the Heat's Big Three would win together. J.Pat Carter, AP

Before the Big Three of Dwyane Wade, left, Chris Bosh, center, and LeBron James, right, had played a single minute together, the Miami Heat threw an elaborate celebration at Miami's American Airlines Arena on July 9, 2010. Al Diaz, AP

In Cleveland, July 8, 2010, will forever be known for 'The Decision,' the day free agent LeBron James announced on ESPN that he was leaving the Cavaliers and taking his 'talents to South Beach' to join the Miami Heat. Bob Luckey, Greenwich Time via AP

Before he left for Miami, LeBron James, celebrating with teammate Sasha Pavlovic after hitting the game winning three pointer against the Orlando Magic in Game 2 of the 2009 Eastern Conference Finals, was perhaps the most popular athlete in Cleveland sports history. Gregory Shamus, Getty Images

Despite a stinging playoff defeat in the 2007-08 Eastern Conference finals by his Cavaliers against the Celtics, LeBron James experienced victory in a busier-than-usual offseason, helping Team USA go undefeated on the way to the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics. Greg Pearson, USA TODAY Sports

LeBron James scored Cleveland's final 25 points as the Cavaliers outlasted the Pistons 109-107 in double overtime of Eastern Conference Finals Game 5 on May 31, 2007. The Cavs overcame a 2-0 series deficit and won in six. Gregory Shamus, Getty Images

LeBron was ruled ineligible and the end of his senior year by the Ohio High School Athletic Association, because he accepted free sports jerseys, bringing a sudden end to the basketball star's celebrated high school career. Tony Dejak, AP

James' road to NBA stardom seemingly started while he was still in high school. As a standout for St. Vincent-St. Mary's High School in Akron, Ohio, James quickly earned "next big thing" status with sports magazine covers and recognition on the USA TODAY All-USA boys basketball team for three consecutive years. Eileen Blass, USA TODAY Sports